Protective Factors for Life Satisfaction in Aging Populations Residing in Public Sector Old Age Homes of Pakistan: Implications for Social Policy

Determinants of physical, psychological, and social well-being in older adults: a cross-sectional study in senior care facilities of Pakistan (2019/20)

“…There are more than 15 million people aged 60 years and above in Pakistan, and the projections show that the number will become 40 million by 2050, making them 12% of the total population [ 4 ]. A similar trend can also be observed in other South-East Asian countries bringing challenges such as the provision of healthcare facilities, transportation, jobs, recreation, housing, and increasing the number of different types of senior care facilities such as old age homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement homes, and residential care facilities for older adults [ 2 , 5 – 7 ]. Some of the studies from this region conducted on senior care facilities have stressed to increase the number of such facilities due to the increasing population of older adults, demand for healthcare systems, housing, changing preferences of older persons to live in such settings to avoid loneliness, abandonment of parents by the children due to changing norms of filial piety and familial care-giving, and increased abuse and neglect of older adults in home settings [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 8 – 14 ].…”

“…Old age homes are the common residential setting for older adults in South-East Asian countries providing accommodation, food, clothing, recreation, and basic healthcare. However, they are often stereotypically labeled as homes for older adults who have been neglected and abandoned by their families [ 2 , 5 , 20 , 21 ]. Gerontologists and Geriatricians point out that low life satisfaction, lesser perceived control, and poor well-being may not be an outcome of aging as older adults in vulnerable settings are at a higher risk of experiencing these negative consequences as compared to other groups of older adults [ 1 , 2 , 5 ].…”

“…However, they are often stereotypically labeled as homes for older adults who have been neglected and abandoned by their families [ 2 , 5 , 20 , 21 ]. Gerontologists and Geriatricians point out that low life satisfaction, lesser perceived control, and poor well-being may not be an outcome of aging as older adults in vulnerable settings are at a higher risk of experiencing these negative consequences as compared to other groups of older adults [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]. For example, studies have found that older adults who relocated to senior care facilities were at higher risk of having lower well-being and higher depression than community dwellers [ 22 – 24 ].…”

“…Very few studies have been conducted on old age homes, and the exact number of old age homes and the older adults residing in these senior care facilities in Pakistan is not known [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 11 , 36 ]. Some of the studies conducted on these facilities have reported poor quality of life of older adults due to a lack of financial, structural, and social support [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 36 ]. No study was found that empirically investigated the well-being of older adults in these settings.…”

The Need for Interventions to Reduce Time Spent on Social Media and Strengthening of Family Relationships in University Students

“…Social media platforms allow families to regularly communicate photos and stories and share rituals in a way that can build bonds and create positive reminders about family values (Abel et al, 2021). Two recent local studies found that social media can help in keeping family members in touch and sustain intergenerational learning (Rizvi Jafree et al, 2021) and that social media can also be used to maintain links with religious centres and overall spiritual values (Rizvi Jafree, 2021).…”